5 players trending up (week 15)

Featuring Isaiah Likely, J.J. McCarthy, and more.

December 09, 2025

Yooo!

Last night, I asked you guys if you’d trade a 1st to acquire Fannin. 66.1% of you said no.

Our take: My guess is he’ll be worth a 1st at some point next year, which makes this a great time to capture some potential value. Give me all the Fannin shares for a 2026 Early 2nd.

Best subscriber comment: “I'd send a mid-late 1st for him. With a lacking WR corps...he could be the number 1 target next year. If Shedeur is the starter next year and can shine like he did against the Titans... Fannin could very well be a top 5 TE next year and beyond. ALL ABOARD THE FANNIN TRAIN!”

Alright, let’s pivot to 5 players trending up as we head into Week 15.

Giddy up.

TE - Isaiah Likely (BAL)

  • While Mark Andrews remains the Baltimore Ravens' primary tight end, Isaiah Likely's offensive role has been expanding, highlighted by a strong performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers with four receptions, a touchdown, and 12.5 PPR fantasy points.

  • Likely has shown improved consistency, recording at least six targets and 12.5 fantasy points in back-to-back games after failing to reach those thresholds in the first 12 weeks of the season.

  • With an upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who recently allowed 38.7 fantasy points to Buffalo Bills tight ends, Likely presents an intriguing streaming option for fantasy managers seeking tight end production.

  • Our take: Mark Andrews is the one who just got paid, but Likely is the one who has produced the last 2 games. He gets CIN again this weekend, a team he just had 5 catches and 95 yards against in Week 13.

QB - J.J. McCarthy (MIN)

  • J.J. McCarthy delivered his best career performance last week against the Commanders, throwing for 163 passing yards and three touchdowns. This breakout game has made him a more appealing streaming option for fantasy managers.

  • McCarthy has an extremely favorable matchup this week against the Dallas Cowboys, who have been giving up over 25 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. This makes him a potentially solid start for teams needing a quarterback in the playoffs.

  • With a roster percentage of 23%, McCarthy represents a low-risk, high-upside streaming option for fantasy managers looking to capitalize on a defense that has been generous to opposing quarterbacks.

  • Our take: As of today, he comes in at QB22 in our weekly consensus projections with 16.70 points. The only reason he’s trending up is because of how low he was before, though…

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TE - Mike Gesicki (CIN)

  • Gesicki's performance varies significantly with Tee Higgins' availability, showing notable production in games without the wide receiver. In five games without Higgins last year, he averaged 5.2 receptions and 62.4 receiving yards per game, with 11 half-PPR points.

  • In recent games, Gesicki's route participation has been limited (45.9% against the Bills, 39.6% against the Ravens), creating a low floor for fantasy production. However, he demonstrated potential with six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown in Week 14.

  • The article categorizes Gesicki as a boom-or-bust TE1, suggesting he offers high-variance potential that could be attractive for fantasy managers willing to take a risk in their lineup.

  • Our take: There have been rumors that Tee Higgins could get shut down for the year with his concussion, which makes Gesicki an interesting streamer if you’re struggling at TE.

TE - Colby Parkinson (LAR)

  • Colby Parkinson is on the best run of his career, having scored touchdowns in four of his last five games, including a recent performance with three catches for 32 yards and a score against Arizona.

  • Parkinson leads the league in red-zone targets over the last five weeks, making him an attractive option for fantasy managers seeking tight end production during the playoffs.

  • Playing in the Rams' high-powered passing attack, which ranks third in yards per game and features Matthew Stafford leading the league with 35 touchdown passes, Parkinson has significant scoring potential in his upcoming game against the Lions.

  • Our take: I didn’t set out to make this a TE-heavy newsletter tonight, but if we’re going with a 3-TE set, you know we gotta get Colby in there. He’s as good of a bet as any to find the end zone this week at the TE position.

RB - R.J. Harvey (DEN)

  • R.J. Harvey delivered a strong Week 14 outing against the Raiders with six receptions, 100 total yards, and 22 fantasy points, and he has now scored at least 22 points in two straight games with J.K. Dobbins sidelined.

  • The hosts highlighted that this recent run is exactly what managers hoped for after the injury ahead of him on the depth chart, to the point that R.J. Harvey could be viewed as a league winner if he continues to handle this expanded role through the fantasy playoffs.

  • Film-wise, R.J. Harvey impressed with plays like a screen catch where he was hit four yards behind the line of scrimmage yet still powered ahead for a first down, showing growing confidence and increasing trust from the head coach in high-leverage situations.

  • Given that the head coach typically prefers committees, the analysts still view R.J. Harvey as at least a locked-in weekly flex for the rest of this season, and if his strong play continues into next year it may encourage the Broncos to bring in backs who complement him rather than seriously threaten his primary role.

  • Our take: This is what Harvey managers have been hoping for all season. Harvey has a chance to carry a lot of momentum into next season, depending on how he finishes this year. It will also be interesting to see how Dobbins gets worked back into the offense if he comes back during the playoffs.

That’s all for tonight!

See ya pizza,

Joe

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